"..."
Fulgrim's voice seemed stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
Now, "it" could not, and dared not, meet Samuel Young's gaze. The other's stare filled "it" with an indescribable fear.
There was a time when Fulgrim had been a symbol of glory and honor.
But after his fall, he had pledged allegiance to the Chaos Gods, believing he had gained eternal power.
Now that all his connections to Chaos had been severed, the primal desires and extreme emotions had dissipated, leaving behind a void and emptiness.
Fulgrim understood that this did not mean "it" could escape the responsibility it had to bear.
The events of the past ten thousand years flooded into "its" mind like a tidal wave, nearly suffocating "it."
"It" had been lured by the Greater Daemon within the trophy (sword) and had easily turned to the side of the traitors.
Afterward, "it" had personally slain its brothers, and its descendants had used various insane methods to try to expel the Slaaneshi Greater Daemon that had possessed "its" body. The destruction "it" had caused still lingered like a nightmare.
Every swing of the sword, every choice, had led "it" step by step into the abyss.
Especially the harm done to humanity—Fulgrim could no longer escape the pain and guilt.
Samuel's words were not false.
The number of humans who had died directly or indirectly because of "it" could not be counted in the trillions, but it was certainly in the hundreds of trillions.
If humanity had followed the plans of "its" father, the Emperor of Mankind, they could have freed themselves from the interference and threats of the Warp, allowing the entire race to flourish once more.
Fulgrim, too, could have become a revered model for the entire race. Unfortunately, "it" had torn apart that future, burying hundreds of trillions of lives under "its" ambition and madness.
"It" had betrayed its original ideals and goals, willingly seduced by Chaos, and betrayed the trust of its father and brothers.
Even during Horus Lupercal's assault on Holy Terra, "it" and its fallen descendants had focused only on torturing and slaughtering civilians.
Now, Fulgrim was tormented by pain, fear, and regret, as if the wails of every soul were echoing in its ears.
What made Fulgrim's heart ache even more was that "it" did not know how to make amends for all its mistakes and betrayals.
"However..."
At this moment, Samuel's figure quickly returned to its original height, and the surrounding space trembled slightly with his change.
Then, he slowly walked toward Fulgrim, his expression stern as he spoke in a low voice:
"Simply letting your soul be destroyed would probably be a relief for you. So, I have decided to let you stay in hell to atone for your sins until the day humanity no longer needs to fear the threat of Chaos."
"Atonement...?"
Fulgrim's voice trembled, clearly confused and uncertain, its mind in chaos.
For "it," atonement had long become an unattainable dream. Ten thousand years of corruption and sin had pushed "it" into an irredeemable abyss.
Samuel did not offer an explanation or answer but continued:
"Stand up."
Hearing this, Fulgrim's heart was filled with confusion and fear.
After some hesitation, Fulgrim slowly stood up, each movement as if weighed down by an immense burden, extremely difficult.
When "it" raised its head, trying to meet Samuel's gaze, "it" felt an almost suffocating pressure.
But when Fulgrim looked around, everything had changed.
The once-scorching magma and raging flames of hell had vanished without a trace.
In their place was a dark sky, its heavy clouds emitting an oppressive light, filling the air with endless despair.
"Ah————!"
"No—no—!"
Following this were countless piercing screams and helpless wails, the cries coming from all directions and entering Fulgrim's ears.
"It" turned to look.
What met "its" eyes were countless torture grounds, as if this world consisted only of pain and death.
The "prisoners," both men and women, were naked, their bodies bound with thorny chains or tied to various torture devices, their flesh scorched by machinery and flames.
Some were tied to scalding pillars, their muscles spasming violently from the heat, enduring endless agony every second.
The prisoners were covered in blood, their faces twisted in pain as they struggled violently on the torture devices.
The pleas for mercy pierced the empty space, filling every inch of the air, making it seem as if this "hell" had no end, as if all those being punished would never escape.
"..."
Seeing all this, Fulgrim instinctively raised its hands and covered its head.
The memories of wanton slaughter and trampling seemed to consume "it" completely, like a nightmare from which there was no escape, constantly reminding "it" of the crimes "it" had committed.
At this moment, Fulgrim began to think that perhaps this was "its" ultimate fate—to accept endless punishment until "it" was completely erased.
Perhaps this would slightly ease the heavy chains and lessen the immense regret and guilt deep within.
But just as Fulgrim sank into contemplation, Samuel's cold voice broke the silence.
"You are not here to be punished. Don't think too highly of yourself."
Hearing this, Fulgrim suddenly looked up, realizing that its surroundings had changed dramatically once again.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them had teleported to the outskirts of a torture ground.
Fulgrim, however, seemed accustomed to this and did not show much surprise or shock.
What lay before them was a relatively quiet space, desolate and cold, with a few figures bound in chains visible on the torture ground.
At this moment.
Samuel's voice rang out again, carrying an irresistible tone:
"From now on, you will work here."
Fulgrim was stunned, clearly confused by this statement.
Work?
"It" had thought "it" was destined to endure endless punishment, to become an eternal prisoner with no hope of escape. How could there be any talk of "work"?
But this time, Samuel offered an explanation, continuing:
"The space we are in is the second layer of hell—
Lust.
All the souls here have committed unforgivable crimes in the material universe.
And you will become the agent of Lust, using the most extreme and painful methods you can imagine to torment and 'ravage' the souls of those who have sinned.
Only in this way can the people of the material universe understand the severe consequences of harming others and their loved ones for momentary pleasure or impulse."
Since Samuel had gained control of heaven and hell, these two "miniature warp-like" realms had been amplified and transformed by his psychic power.
Both heaven and hell, under his control, had taken on functions and meanings far beyond conventional existence, becoming part of his governance.
Heaven needs little explanation. As long as ordinary citizens had not violated imperial law or the Human Codex, their souls would "automatically" go to heaven after death and enter the "reincarnation process," returning to the empire as newborns.
Of course, after reincarnation, they would no longer remember their past lives, starting anew.
For those who had performed exceptionally well in life, made significant contributions, or performed great acts of kindness, heaven offered another option.
Once they entered heaven, they could choose to stay, enjoying near-eternal peace and tranquility.
In heaven, they would no longer endure any pain or burden, nor be troubled by time.
For souls who grew weary of the tranquility of heaven or wished to continue fighting for the empire and humanity, heaven also offered the option of reincarnation.
This choice was particularly important for those who had made great sacrifices for humanity in the material universe, especially soldiers, Astartes, and members of elite races who had died in service to the empire.
The empire provided these individuals with respect and rewards after death, allowing them to choose to return to the material universe and continue their unfinished missions.
This was part of the empire's "post-death benefits" for all its citizens.
And all of this did not rely on any religious dogma or coercion.
The imperial religion did not, like other religions, require its followers to adhere to cumbersome rules, such as vegetarianism or abstinence, to receive the Emperor's blessings.
As long as citizens met the legal requirements and standards, they could enjoy the "benefits" of the afterlife.
This level of freedom and openness meant that the imperial religion did not rely on superstition and rituals to maintain control over the populace but instead used practical systems and order to ensure the happiness and peace of its citizens.
As for hell...
For those criminals who harbored a mindset of wishful thinking or were psychologically disturbed, it was almost a taboo topic that made people pale at the mere mention.
At one time, many heinous criminals believed that the worst consequence of their actions was simply "death." For those who had committed crimes repeatedly and had long become numb to morality or consequence, death seemed like an escape, a straightforward end.
Now?
With the Emperor of Mankind in control of hell, the price of sin had risen, becoming heavier and more terrifying than ever before.
Those who had once been able to evade responsibility through death now realized that their crimes could not be "cleansed" by dying.
Now, those who committed heinous crimes such as rape, trafficking, and murder would not only face the severe punishment of imperial law in life but also endure endless torment in hell after death.
The most terrifying aspect was that these criminals' souls would almost never have the chance to reincarnate.
They could no longer seek redemption in a new life but would instead be condemned to eternal damnation in hell, enduring unimaginable torment and punishment.
And the horror did not end there.
As the imperial religion publicized the concepts of heaven and hell through videos and images, all citizens—even the most brazen and lawless criminals—were deeply shaken.
The scenes of hell, the methods of torture—everything was vividly displayed, like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of criminals and psychopaths, effectively deterring potential crimes.
Thus, the concepts of heaven and hell had far surpassed the traditional religious realm, becoming a social security system under Samuel's rule, providing post-death benefits to all citizens.
This unique management of the afterlife not only ensured the stability of the empire but also allowed every individual to feel the empire's protection and justice, thereby helping Samuel consolidate the so-called "power of faith."
Even so, given the empire's vast population, various crimes could not be completely eradicated.
Whether it was deeply disturbed psychopaths or those who felt no remorse and lived by the creed of "live for the moment," they still existed in the shadows of the empire.
And each layer of hell corresponded to different crimes and their respective tortures.
Samuel's energy and time were precious. For those who had fallen into the abyss of sin, hell was their deserved punishment, but he did not intend to spend too much attention meticulously "caring" for each soul.
Fulgrim had committed countless atrocities, betrayed humanity's ideals, and ultimately became a twisted, deformed demon.
Now, Fulgrim had nowhere to escape. Even though Samuel had severed Fulgrim's connection to Chaos and restored "it" to "itself," the former Slaaneshi Daemon Prince seemed like the perfect agent for the second layer of hell—Lust.
If, in the future, Samuel successfully opened a portal to the Warhammer 40k universe, he could also "recruit" the fallen primarchs to "work" here, using them to enhance his psychic power and expand hell and heaven.
"Me, as an agent? This is somewhat..."
On the other hand, after hearing Samuel's words, Fulgrim still felt somewhat conflicted.
For some reason, "he" felt that just as "it" had escaped the shackles and control of Chaos and Slaanesh, "it" had been thrust into another inescapable abyss.
"There is nothing inappropriate about this."
But Samuel raised his left hand, cutting off Fulgrim's words. His calm tone carried an undeniable, irresistible pressure as he continued:
"I have no interest in questioning the crimes you've committed, nor do I have the time to help you alleviate your guilt. From this moment on, you will do as I say.
And there will be no vacations or relaxation. You will work endlessly, understand?"
"This is..."
With no other choice, Fulgrim accepted the position of "agent" and instinctively knelt on one knee, bowing respectfully to Samuel.
"Good."
Seeing this, Samuel nodded slightly, then caused Fulgrim's body to emit a faint golden light.
In the next moment, the crimes committed by countless souls in their lifetimes, along with their entire life histories, flooded into Fulgrim's mind like a bursting dam.
!
This caused Fulgrim's face to twist in pain and agony, though it was still within the range of what "it" could endure.
After all, compared to the atrocities "it" had committed as a Slaaneshi Daemon Prince, "this pain" was insignificant.
However, deep in Samuel's eyes, there was a hint of relief, or perhaps...
"Contentment."
Because after handing over the "temporary authority" of the second layer of hell—Lust—to Fulgrim, he no longer had to bear the mental burden of managing the souls related to "lust," which slightly alleviated the pressure on him.
And this pressure had now been transferred to Fulgrim.
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